Pleasure Before Business: Lavender Lace, #1

By Lynn LaFleur

Marci Bayne, president of a successful media company, refuses to get involved with an employee. She doesn't consider it professional, especially after an affair with one ended badly. Enter her new vice president, hunky Keefe Donegan with his black hair and blue eyes, and she's a goner.

Marci wears business suits to work every day, yet has a weakness for sexy lingerie. She can't resist buying several pieces of lingerie when she visits Lavender Lace, a store run by Celtic goddess Ashlyn. Ashlyn convinces Marci to be brave and buy something new, something a man wouldn't be able to resist.

Keefe falls for Marci, despite knowing she's leery of a relationship with an employee. It'll take time, but will be worth it to convince her pleasure always comes before business.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lynn LaFleur
• Release date: Jan 23, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393793434

Lynn LaFleur

Lynn LaFleur was born and raised in a small town in Texas. After living in various places on the West Coast for twenty-one years, she is back in her hometown. Lynn also publishes with Ellora's Cave, and when she is not writing, she loves reading, sewing, gardening, and learning new things on the computer.

Book preview

Prologue

Ashlyn Flanagan tilted her head to the side and looked at the sign from a different angle. She wiggled her mouth back and forth. Something simply wasn’t right. The sign itself was perfect, a soothing lavender background with dark-violet lettering in a scripty font designed from her own handwriting. It had taken the sign maker three times to get the coloring right, but he’d finally succeeded. And yet...

Another of yer romantic adventures, me love? a masculine voice whispered in her ear.

She would know that lilting Irish brogue anywhere. Joy coursed through her body, a prelude to the pleasure she knew would come later. Smiling, Ashlyn turned to see Llyr grinning at her. The sight of the Celtic god of the sea always made her heart flutter in her chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. Where have you been? She released him, but clasped his hands to keep him close. I haven’t seen you in months.

Takin’ care of me duties, lass.

Since when do you have duties? Don’t you have dozens of little gods and goddesses who work for you?

Aye, but I still have to oversee those dozens. ’Tis a full-time job lately. I’m wearin’ meself down to nothing.

Ashlyn looked at his shoulder-length, coal-black hair, his sky-blue eyes, those dimples that made her knees weak when he smiled. Llyr was six-feet, one-inch of broad-shouldered, husky male who had captured her heart five hundred years ago. You don’t look like you’re wearing yourself down to nothing.

Llyr dipped his head. I thank ye for the compliment, but I could use some time off to relax and recuperate.

The wicked gleam in his eyes told her exactly how he wanted to relax. That would be fine with her. She hadn’t experienced Llyr’s incredible lovemaking in much too long. Would you like to go to my house?

He smiled, flashing those dimples along with his white teeth. ’Tis a grand idea ye have, darlin’. But first... He looked at the sign above the door. What is Lavender Lace?

My new lingerie store.

Lingerie. Those frilly undergarments women wear that get in the way?

Ashlyn giggled. Llyr had always said women’s underwear had been invented to aggravate men. Bras, panties, slips, garter belts, pajamas, nightgowns, and other goodies. I have everything a woman could want to entice her man.

Llyr slid one hand to her butt and squeezed. Yer skin entices me, lass. That’s all I need.

Quickly grabbing his hand, she pulled it to her waist. We’re on a public sidewalk, Llyr.

Then take me someplace private. I’ve a yearnin’ to touch ye all over.

So did Ashlyn. She loved touching Llyr’s body. He had the perfect amount of hair on his chest and stomach to tickle her fingertips. Muscled arms and thighs and a nice big cock completed the package.

But first, she wanted his opinion. What’s wrong with the sign?

A frown turned down the corners of his mouth. What sign?

The one above the door. The sign maker made it exactly as I designed it, but something isn’t right about it.

His chest rose and fell with his heavy sigh. Ashlyn. I haven’t been with ye in months. I’m here now, ready and willin’ to ravish ye. ’Tis not the sign I’m thinkin’ about.

The word ravish sounded delicious. I suppose you could look at the sign later.

His smile returned. A grand idea.

My car is nearby.

Lead the way.

* * * * *

Ashlyn had driven, even though she’d offered to let Llyr drive. He’d declined, saying he hadn’t driven an automobile in several years, and she knew the Seattle area much better than he. Once on their way, she knew exactly why he’d let her drive. He’d tortured her every mile to her house. A tickle of her earlobe. A brush of his thumb across her nipple. A dance of his fingertips on the inside of her thigh. By the time she pulled into her garage, her body burned for him.

She didn’t make it any farther than inside her kitchen when she attacked him. Pushing him against the door, she kissed him passionately while rubbing his hard shaft with her mound. He returned kiss for kiss, his hands sliding up and down her sides. With each pass, the heels of his hands brushed the sides of her breasts.

Llyr ended their kiss and cradled her face. Are ye hungry, darlin’?

Very.

I shouldna have stayed away so long.

No, you shouldn’t have. Stop talking and kiss me.

He made a tsking noise. So impatient. The build-up is worth it, don’t ye think?

You teased me in my car all the way over here. That was my build-up.

Leaning closer, he whispered into her ear. Are ye nice and wet, darlin’?

Definitely.

Then take me to your bedroom so I can find out fer sure.

Walking would take too much time. Ashlyn snapped her fingers. One moment they stood in her kitchen, the next they stood by her bed.

A cocky smile curved Llyr’s lips. "Ye are hungry. Let me help ye."

A twirl of his forefinger and their clothes lay on the floor. Ashlyn stuck out her lower lip in a playful pout. I wanted to undress you.

Takes too much time. He tugged her against him, and moaned when their bodies touched. Bare is much better.

Bare was definitely much better. She especially liked that glorious hard cock pressed into her belly. She crawled on the bed and motioned for Llyr to follow her. Stretching out on top of her, he rested his weight on his elbows.

I’ve missed ye, lass. He brushed her nipple with the tip of his finger. I’ve missed holdin’ ye, touchin’ ye. He shifted his hips, sliding his shaft along her creamy labia. Bein’ inside ye.

She moaned at the feel of his cock brushing her clit. It wouldn’t take much more than a few strokes and she’d come. Don’t make me wait, Llyr.

Never, darlin’.

Clasping her butt, Llyr slowly slid into her channel. Ye werena lyin’, lass. Yer so wet for me.

Ashlyn closed her eyes with a contented sigh. Other lovers had come and gone over the centuries. She had no doubt other women occupied Llyr’s bed, too. They’d never made promises to each other, never pledged undying love. But when she was with Llyr, no one else mattered. After five hundred years, he knew her body perfectly, as she knew his. They could drive each other to orgasm over and over and still want more.

She knew the climb toward the heavens would happen quickly. She’d been without him for too long. He stared into her eyes as he moved inside her. Ashlyn placed her feet flat on the bed so she could meet every thrust. Each movement grazed her clit exactly the way she liked.

Do ye need more, darlin’? Do ye need me tongue?

"In round two. Just keep... Mmm, yes... Just keep moving like that."

Ashlyn gripped his shoulders as the pleasure sped through her body. A smaller tremor passed through her when Llyr bit her neck. Goose bumps erupted across her skin. He thrust once, twice, three times, and growled low in his throat. Another thrust and he lay still on top of her.

Sweat glazed his skin, releasing Llyr’s unique scent. She could stand blindfolded in a room full of men and she’d find Llyr by his scent. Ashlyn ran her hands slowly up and down his spine while his heart slowed. She so loved touching him.

Llyr raised his head and smiled at her. Ah, lass. ’Tis always good with ye.

And quick.

He threw back his head and laughed. The first time, anyway. Holding her close, he rolled to his back so she lay on top of him. His softened cock remained nestled inside her. We’ll savor round two. And three.

Planning on staying awhile?

As long as ye’ll let me.

Ashlyn sat up so she could touch his chest and stomach. As a god of the sea, Llyr spent many hours in the water. Although he could change his appearance any time he wished, she knew all his muscles were real and came from swimming. He had the most incredible body she’d ever seen.

She tickled his navel, and giggled when he jerked.

He scowled. Watch it.

It amazes me you aren’t ticklish anywhere on your body except your navel.

His scowl faded and the devilish light returned to his eyes. ’Tis only ticklish when ye touch me with yer finger. Yer tongue doesn’t bother me at all. Ye can run it all over me body and I won’t chuckle once.

Such willpower.

Grinning, he tucked one arm behind his head. Ashlyn admired his bulging biceps and the tuft of dark hair beneath his arm. She never tired of looking at him.

Tell me about your new store.

She’d gladly talk about Lavender Lace to anyone. I officially open next week, on Saturday.

And will ye be meddlin’ in people’s love lives again?

I do not meddle, she said, lifting her chin. I help. There’s a difference.

’Tis silly of me not to know the difference.

She knew he teased her, as he’d done many times in the past. Still, she felt she needed to explain what she planned to do. "Mortals need a lot of help with their love lives. So many people don’t even talk to each other. Men, especially, don’t talk."

Men canna get a word in because women talk all the time.

He flinched when she raised her fist. Eyes twinkling, he pulled her fist to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. I love to get yer ire up.

And you do it so easily.

Llyr laughed. I do have a talent. He entwined his fingers with hers. So, ye have all those frilly undergarments women like to wear. Is that all they are? Just frilly undergarments?

What do you mean?

You’re a goddess, darlin’. Is there magic connected to them?

Ashlyn grinned. Maybe.

He loved the impish look in her eyes. Which means there is.

I told you mortals need a lot of help. So many women don’t realize how truly lovely and desirable they are. Wearing my lingerie will help them realize that.

Does the Lavender Lace name mean everything is lavender?

No. I have lingerie in every color, but I’m featuring purples, orchids, and lavenders.

Which just happen to be your favorite colors.

Exactly. There’s no reason why I can’t try some of the lingerie first.

One black eyebrow rose. And who might be seein’ ye in it? I told ye all that fancy stuff isna necessary for me.

But you aren’t always here, Llyr. I do date other men.

And take them as lovers.

Ashlyn shrugged. Sometimes, just like you take other women as lovers.

Aye, that I do. He cradled her breast and circled her nipple with his thumb. But I’ve a soft spot in me heart fer ye, Ashlyn.

Everything inside her melted at his sweet words. I have a soft spot in my heart for you, too.

He continued to caress her nipple, sending pleasant little zings to her clit. So, what do we do about it?

The same thing we’ve done for centuries—pleasure each other.

She leaned over and kissed him...a soft, tender kiss that spoke of her feelings. She and Llyr could never be together, not as a normal couple. He had too many duties that kept him away from her. Her duty was to help people find love, or rediscover the love they’d lost.

His cock stirred inside her. Ashlyn deepened the kiss, stroking her tongue across his. He slid his hands down her back to her butt. He gripped it tightly and arched upward, driving his hardening shaft farther inside her.

Llyr nipped the tender skin below her chin. "I